Trench-digging machine



Dec. 10, 1929. R. 1.. BROWN TRENCH DIGGING MACHINE Filed 111116.14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 10, 1929. R. L. BROWN TRENCH DIGGING MACHINE Filed June l4. .1926 2 Sheets-Sheet Fetented Dec. 10, 1929 NETED STATES L. BROKEN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCGNSIN, ASSIGIIOR 'lO HAIL ISCHFEGER COR- PORATIOH, OF MELHAUKEE, VIISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN TREZiCH-DIGGIETG IVXAGHINE is plication filed June 14;,

This invention relates to improvements in trench digging machines of the so-called ladder type, and more particularly to an improved construction of trench widening apd paratus and supporting and driving means therefor.

Trench digging machines of the class referred to include a boom and a plurality of excavating buckets carried thereby and fixed endless chains arranged to travel longitudinally around the boom, these chains being driven from a power shaft which also acts to pivotally connect the high end of the boom to the superstructure at the rear end of the machine carrying the power plant and driving mechanism, the latter being generally mounted on endless traction belts. The width of the trench which these machines are capable of digging depends upon the width or reach of the excavating buckets. For the purpose of increasing the possibilities of the machine as regards the width of trench it iscapable of digging, it has been proposed to attach cutting elements to either side of the boom and to reciprocate the same in a direction longitudinally of the boom as the machine moves along, whereby these elements cut away the earth to either side of the excava n buckets and make a corre- .er trench, the loose dirt cut ese elements falling into the path buckets and being removed thereby. lhese cutting elements or trench wide 4 means used heretofore op rate with a action to cut away the earthat or silc of the boom and are comparalight in construction, and in no way l to dig into the earth with a plowing s do the excavating buckets.

who of the objects of the present invention to pr vide, in a machine of the character 0, an improved trench widening t to be attached to and to d one which shall ll with a plowing anner as the avatinp' rercrore as Lib Q33.

1926. Serial No. 115,821.

general operation, ruggedness and strength and simplicity of construction.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one embodiment thereof is shown in the wings, in which 1 is a side elevational View of the rear trench digging machine embodying 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1;

3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken ine 33 in Fig. 2; 4; is an enlarged sectional view, taken line 4-4 in Fig. 2; g. 5 a detail fragmentary perspectiv end with spaced collars 11 fitting loosely on the drive shaft 12 journaled in suitable manner in the superstructure or framework 13 at the rear end of he machine, which is supported at either side on endless traction belts 1. For the purpose of driving shaft 12, a s rocket wheel 15 is fixed on one end thereof and connected. in suitable manner to the power mechanism (not shown) mounted on the base 16 of the machine.

Sprocket chains 17 and 18, to which the excavating buckets 19 are fixed, are arranged to travel about the sheaves 20 carried by the lower end of the boom and the sprocket wheels 21 fixed on shaft 12 and which act to drive chains. The upper run of the cha' supported and guided on pulleys 22 fixed on rotatably supported by the ends of shafts 23 the boom.

A shaft 2% extends transversely through the boom intermediate the ends thereof and is movement of the journaled in suitable bearings secured to the boom on either side of the same, as more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the ends of shaft 21- extending beyond each side of the boom. Cranks 26 are fixed on the extended ends of shaft 24 and are provided at their free ends with fixed pins 27 extending outwardly beyond and at right angles to the boom. A similar shaft 28 extends through the lower end of the boom and is journaled in bearings 29 fixed on either side thereof, and being similar in construction to bearings 25, cranks 30 being fixed on the ends of this shaft and provided at their free ends with fixed pins 31 which also extend outwardly beyond and at right angles t othe boom.

The improved trench widening attachment includes digging members, designated generally in Fig. 2 by reference numerals 32 and 33, arra ed upon either side of the boom and extending longitudinally thereof. Member 32 comprises a bear 1g 3%: fitted loosely on the pin 27, asimilarbearing 35 fitted loosely on pin 31, and spaced parallel bars 36 connected their ends to the respective adjacent laterally extending portions 34: and 35 of bearings 3i and 35 respectively, a plurality of U-snaped brackets 37 dependingfrom bars 36, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, and being secured at their upper ends to these bars, digging teeth 38 being fixed to the lower portions 39 of these brackets by means of rivets or bolts a0, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. The teeth 38 extend downwardly and operate to plow into and dig away the earth at either side of the excavating buckets 19. For the purpose of finishing the side of the trench, digging members 41 are secured to the outer bar 36 by means of the same bolts l2 by which the ends of brackets 37 are secured to this bar, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5. Each of the d'gging members 4-1 comprises the shank 43 and a forwardly and downwardly extending blade 44, the plane of the blade being angularly disposed with respect to the plane of shank l3 and the plane of movement of the blade, whereby the latter during its working Stroke to the left, as Vic wed in Fl 1 and 2, operates to cut and finish the side of the trench and to direct the cut material inwardly toward the center of the trench into the path of excavating buckets by which this material is then removed.

Another tl-shaped bracket 37 also provided with teeth 38 and a side digging member 4-1 may be secured to the outer laterally extending portion 45 of bearing 34, as shown. A similar cl-shaped bracket 3'? provided with teeth 46 fixed to the portion a? thereof and a member 48 similar in construction to the digging members 41, is fixed as shown to the outer laterally extending portion 49 of bearing 35. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 the portions 39 and l? of the U-shaped brackets 37 and 37, respectively, are inclined clownwardly and inwardly so that the loose earth will be moved into thenath of moveinentv oit buckets l The digging member 33 is similar in corn struction to member 32, tie ends of this memher being provided with the bearings 50 and 51 fitted loosely, respectively, on crank pins 27 and 31.

Shaft 24- is driven by means of a sprocket wheel 52 fixed thereto and arranged centrally of the boom. A sprocket chain 53 provides a driving connection between sprocket wheel 52 and a similar sprocket whee 5% fixed to drive shaft 12.

. For the purpose of holding the upper run of chain 53 out of the way of buckets 19, an idler pulley 55 engages the upper side of his portion of the sprocket chain between pulleys 22, pulley 55 being loosely mounted on a pin 56 fixed in tie outer ends of links 57 loosely mounted at their other respective ends on pper shaft 23, as more clearly shown in l 2. Straps 58 fixed to the outer e: of links 57 and are provided with threaded stems 59 extending downwardly through suitable brackets 60 ilICGCl on each side of the boom, nuts {Sl being threaded on stems 5 and e aging the undersides of brackets 60 to limit pwa-rd movement of pull y 55.

As more clearly shown in F 3, the boom 10 may comprise vertically spaced channel members 61 connected by side plates 62, and an le members 63 extending longitudinally of the boom and being secured to the upper and lower edges of plates 62, he plates 62 and angle members 63 forming, in effect, hori- D ll zontally spaced channel member to which the bearings 25 and 29 are secured, the bearings 25 being spaced and channel members 61 being provided with openings 64 to accommodate sprocket wheel 52.

The operation of the improved trench wio ening apparatus is follows: Upon rotation of drive shaft 12 in a clockwise direc idas viewed in Fig. 1, shaft 2% will be cause to rotate in this direction and the cranks 2o fixed upon the ends of the latter will in turn cause the adjacent ends of members and 33 to rotate in the path of a circle having the axis of shaft 24- as a center and a radius equal to the length of cranks 26, the lower or outer ends of members 32 and being caused to rotate in the path of a circle having as a center the axis of shaft 28 and a radius equal to the length of E For cranks 30. each revolution of shaft 24, therefore, the teeth 33 and thedigging me; hers ll, as well as teeth 46 and digging members will be given a forward movement to the left, as

viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, teeth and as di ging into the earth with a plowing act and cooperating with excavating buckets 19, which are also operating at this time, to cut out a trench equal in width to ubstantially s the combined reach of buckets l9 and these teeth, the side digging members 41 and 4:8 cutting away and finishing the side of the trench and directing the cut material inwardly toward the center of the trench and into the path of movement of buckets 19.

As shown in Fig. 8, the lower cranks 30, corresponding to cranks 30 in Fig. 2, may be made greater in length than cranks 26, whereby the lower or'outer ends ofmembers 32 and 33 will merely be given a rocking-or oscillatory movement about the axis of shaft 28 upon rotation of the upper ends of these members about the axis of shaft 2%. It will be understood, furthermore, that the width of the trench cut may be increased by makshafts 24 and 28 longer to cause their respective ends and the attached members 32 and 33 to extend a greater distanceoutwardly beyond the sides of the boom, and that one or both sides of the trench may be cut on a slope by removing one or the other or both of the pins 27 in Figs. 1 to 4t and substituting therefor a longer pin 27 as shown in Fig. 9, whereby one or both of the memhers 32 and 33 will be disposed at an angle with respect to the boom.

To provide against the possibility of the cranks on both sides of the boom being in dead center position at the same time, in the construction where cranks 30 are made equal in length to cranks 26, the cranks on one side of the boom may be offset about fifteen degrees with respect to the cranks on the other side of the boom, as more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 7. l Vhile this amount of offset, namely fifteen degrees, has been md to provide for satisfactory operation,

l of course be apparent that this amount of 0 set may be made greater or less as desired.

Either one or both of the trench widening members and 38 may be readily removed by removing the cranks 26 and 30 from the respective ends of shafts 2a and 28 at either or both ends of the boom.

Jne embodiment of the invention has been own and described, but of course various anges may be made such as in the size, roe and arrangement of the parts without oenartingifrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

rrn 1 claimed is.

boom mtermediat ig means including a member arranged side of said boom and extending longitudinally thereof, one end of said member being connected to said second shaft for rotation therewith about the axis thereof, the other end of said memb r being supportedby the free end of said boom for rotary movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said second shaft,:and means for rotating said second-shaft.

2. In a trench digging machine including a boom, a pair of spaced shafts carried by said boom at the digging end thereof and arranged transversely of the same, a digging member arranged to one side of said boom and extending longitudinally thereof, the respective ends of said shafts said side of the boombeing provided with cranks, one of said cranks being fixed to its associated shaft, the ends of said member being pivotally connected to the respective free ends of said cranks, and means for rotating said last-named cranks whereby the end of said member con nected thereto is caused to rotate in the path of a-circle having the axis of said shaft as a center and a radius equal to the length of the fixed crank.

3. In a trench digging machine having a boom, an element carried by said boom and supported'thereby for forward and backward movement with respect to the latter in a direction longitudinally of the same, a digging meml'ier comprising a shank secured to said element and a downwardly extending blade, he plane of said blade being angularly disposed with respect to the plane of said shank in such wise as to direct the cut material toward the center of the trench during the working stroke of the digging member, and operating means for said element.

4. In a trench digging machine of the character described including a boom and excavating buckets carried thereby, a member arranged to one side of said boom and supported thereby for relative forward and backward movement in a direction longitudinally thereof, digging elements secured to the under side of said member and arranged for cooperation with said buckets to cut out a trench equal in width to substantially the combined reach of the buckets and digging elements, means secured to member and ettending outwardly beyond the same to finish the adjacent side of thetrench, and means for drivingsaid member.

5. In a trenchdigging machine of the character'described including a boom and excavating buckets carried thereby, a member arranged to one side of said boom and s11 ported thereby for relative forward and backward movement in a direction longitudinally thereof, digging elements secured to the under side of said member and arranged for cooperation. with said buckets to cut out a trench equal'in width to substantially the combined reach of the buckets and digging elements, plurality of downwardly extending aligned blades secured to said member and extending outwardly beyond the same to finish the adjacent side if the trench, said blades being angularly disposed with respect to their plane said.

of movement whereby the latter are operable du ing their working stroke to cut and direct the out material toward the center of the trench, and means for driving said member.

6. In a trench digging machine of the character described including a boom and excavating apparatus carried thereby, a member arranged to one side of said boom and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of sets of digging elements spaced longitudinally of said member and secured thereto, the elements of each set extending downwardly below said member, pair of spaced shafts carried by the digging end of said boom and arranged transversely tl-ereof, cranks carried by the respective ends of said shafts at said side of the boom, said member being pivotally connected at its ends to the free ends of said cranks, one of said cranks being fixed with respect to its associated shaft, and means for driving said last-named shaft.

7. In a trench digging machine of the character described including a boom, a pair of spaced shafts journaled in said boom at the digging end thereof and extending transversely of the latter with their respective ends extending beyond the same, cranks carried by said shafts at their extended ends, digging members arranged on either side of said boom with their ends pivotally mounted on the free ends of said cranks, the cranks carried by one of said shafts being fixed thereto, and means for rotating said last-named shaft.

8. In a trench digging machine of the character described including a boom, a pair of cranks pivotally mounted on said boom at the digging end thereof, crank pins extending from the respective ends of said cranks outwardly beyond one side of said boom at rightangles with respect thereto, bearings loosely mounted on said pins, said bearings being provided with laterally and inwardly extending portions, means connecting said bearing portions, digging members secured to said connecting means at spaced intervals along the latter and extending downwardly below the same, and means for imparting rotary movement to one of said cranks.

9; In a trench digging machine of the character described including a boom, a pair of cranks pivotally mounted on said boom at the digging end thereof, crank pins extending from the respective ends of said cranks outwardly beyond one side of said boom at right angles with respect thereto, bearings loosely mounted on said pins, said bearings being provided with laterally and inwardly extending portions, means connecting said bearing portions, digging members secured to said connectin means at spaced intervals along the latter and extending downwardly below the same, and means for imparting rotary movement to one of said cranks, certain of said members comprising each a shank fixed to said connecting means and a cutting blade extending outwardly beyond the outer edge of said connecting means and being disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of movement of the latter.

10. In a trench digging machine of the character described including a boom, a pair of spaced shafts extending transversely through the digging end of said boom and journaled therein, cranks fixed on the respective ends of said shafts, digging members arranged on either side of said boom and extending longitudinally thereof, the ends of said members being pivotally connected to the respective ends of said cranks, the cranks on one side of said boom being angularly offset with respect to those on the opposite side of said boom, and means for imparting rotary movement to one of said shafts.

11. In a trench digging machine of the character described including a boom, a pair of cranks pivotally mounted on said boom at he digging end thereof, crank pins extending from the respective ends of said cranks outwardly beyond one side of said boom at right angles with respect thereto, bearings loosely mounted on said pins, said bearings being provided with laterally and inwardly extending portions, spaced parallel bars connected at their respective ends to said bearing portions, a plurality of depending brackets secured to said bars and spaced longitudinally of the same, said brackets being provided with digging members, and means for imparting rotary movement to one of said cranks.

12. In a trench digging machine of the character described including a boom, a pair of cranks pivotally mounted on said boom at the digging end thereof, crank pins extend ing from the, respective ends of said cranks outwardly beyond one side of said boom at right angles with respect thereto, bearings loosely mounted on said pins, said bearings being provided with laterally and inwardly extending portions, spaced parallel bars connected at their respective ends to said bearing portions, a plurality of depending U-shaped brackets secured at their ends to said bars and spaced longitudinally of the same, said brackets being provided with digging members, and means for imparting rotary movement to one of said cranks.

13. In a trench digging machine of the character described including a boom, a crank carried by said boom and provided at its free end with a pin, a bearing mounted on said. pin and provided with a laterally extending portion, a bracket fixed to s -d bearing portion, a digging element secured to said bracketand depending therefrom, and means for imparting movement to said crank.

14. In a trench digging machine of the character described, a boom, a pair of crank shafts carried by said boom at the digging end thereof, cranks fixed on said shafts at each side of said boom, the cranks on one side of said boom being angularly offset with respect to the cranks on the other side of said boom, digging members arranged on either side of said boom and pivotally connected at their ends to the respective free ends of said cranks, and means for imparting rotary movement to one of said shafts.

15. In a trench digging machine of the character described including a boom, a crank carried by said boom and provided at its free end with a pin, a bearing mounted on said pin and provided with a laterally extending portion, a U-shaped bracket fixed at its end to said bearing portion, digging elements secured to said bracket and depending therefrom, and means for imparting movement to said crank.

16. In a trench digging machine of the character described, a boom, a U-shaped bracket arranged transversely of said boom and carried thereby for oscillatory move ment in a direction longitudinally of the same, said bracket having a portion downwardly and inwardly disposed with respect to the lon itudinal axis of said boom, a digging element carried by said bracket portion, and means for imparting said movement to said bracket.

17. In a trench digging machine of the character described, the combination with a boom and excavating buckets carried thereby, of digging means arranged along one side of the boom, and including a digger mounting member extending longitudinally of the boom to one side thereof, digger elements carried on said digger mounting member and means imparting translatory movement to the digger mounting member in an endless path whereby the digger elements operate to excavate the earth with a plowing action.

18. A trench widening apparatus for use on a trench digging machine having the usual boom and excavating buckets and comprising a rotatable shaft supported intermediate the boom, digging means extending along the sides of the boom, mechanism between the shaft and the digging means for imparting bodily movement to the digging means in an endless path when the shaft is rotated and gearing directly connected to the shaft for rotating the same.

19. In a trench digging machine of the character described, the combination with a boom and excavating buckets carried thereby, of digging means arranged along one side of the boom, cranks supported upon the boom and projecting laterally therefrom and connected with the digging means for imparting translator-y movement thereto in an endless path, and means for driving said cranks.

20. In a trench digging machine, the combination with a boom and excavating buckets carried thereby, of digging means arranged along one side of the boom, means for supture.

ROBERT L. BROWY. 

